Pac-12 Network’s Yogi Roth believes the Colorado Buffaloes have one of the best “run-pass-option” offenses in the country, even if their starting quarterback from the first three games of the season isn’t available.
Roth will be on the call in Eugene on Saturday as the Buffs look to beat the Ducks for the first time in their Pac-12 tenure. Colorado turned heads last week taking a 21-7 first-quarter lead on Michigan, but two key injuries will make Colorado’s matchup with the Ducks even more difficult.
“When you look at Colorado, they do a lot of unique things on offense,” Roth says. “I think right now their run-pass-option game – it’s called ‘RPO’ – is as good as any team in the entire country. When they fake the run and then all of a sudden can find the receivers down the field, as they found Devin Ross early against Michigan, it puts a lot of pressure on the defense.”
The Buffs will need to keep that pressure up against a 2-1 Oregon team looking to bounce back from a loss at Nebraska. Fortunately for Mike MacIntyre’s team, the Ducks share a similar look to the Wolverines. That should give Colorado’s playmakers ample opportunities to move the ball.
“They’re going to see a four-man front front against Oregon, very similar to what they saw against Michigan. In this RPO – run-pass-option game – [there are] so many unique formations. It finds windows and it allows their receivers, who are really talented catching the football in tight quarters, to make plays.”
But just as it was in Michigan, Colorado will need to contain the edge according to Roth especially after losing one of the key members of the defensive line last week.
“Where is Colorado going to have issues?” Roth asks. “I think against the athletic team of Oregon in the perimeter run game. They do so many fly sweeps, this is where Michigan a lot of success a week ago. Colorado’s going to have to shore that up, and losing Derek McCartney for the season at defensive end is not easy.”
That injury isn’t the biggest however. Also injured in last week’s game was starting quarterback Sefo Liufau, who will be a game time decision. The good news for Buffs fans is that Roth thinks CU will be just fine whoever is behind center.
“Is it Sefo Liufau? Is it the redshirt freshman Steven Montez? Whoever it is, when they have opportunities to make plays in big games, like against Oregon, they’re going to have to make them. They didn’t do it a week ago when they had their opportunities.
“It’ll be interesting to watch [Montez] play. He did go 0-for-7, but I think when you go back and watch the film – watch him play, what he did in the spring – Steven Montez, if he is the starter, is going to be fine operating this offense.”
That’s a big vote of confidence heading into what is sure to be another tough matchup for Colorado.